Tonight, my emotions are all over the place! The metal artisans from Croix des Bouquet contact me frequently. Usually, they are trying to make a sale! They are a hard-working group with incredible talents & skills. For the past decade, I’ve purchased items to sell on online at Market Haiti & in Apparent Project fundraisers & party/event boxes.
In the “pre-Covid” era, we sold many thousands of metal items each year! The metal guys were always happy to see me because I ordered items to prepare for the Christmas season. During the fall we had about 350 orders. Each order included about 80-100 metal items. That was a lot of metal! We still purchase metal items to sell in our fundraisers & event boxes, just not at the rate we used to! It works well for the metal workers and provides some income for Apparent Project.
With every trip to Croix des Bouquets, I learned more about the metal workers. They shared their joys & their struggles. I was informed when a new baby was born! Pictures were shared. Wedding celebrations. I shared in moments of grief, too. So many connections! I consider them my friends.
Since 2018, the situation in Haiti and has changed. “Manifestations” (demonstrations) with tire burning & roadblocks began. Over the past few years, the political unrest escalated, eventually resulting in the assassination of their President. Then a new season began with gangs growing in power & influence. Kidnappings, violence, demonstrations, and destruction increased.
The metal artisan village in Croix des Bouquets is located at the heart of a lot of gang violence. Because violence has increased over the past couple months, many artisans have re-located to safer areas.
A few of the metal guys attend Apparent Project job skills training. When they miss class, it’s because traveling is too dangerous in their area.
This past week texts from the metal guys increased. Eventually, I received various messages with reports of extensive damage in the artisan village. Homes were destroyed, shops burned. Many people are now homeless, and the metal artisan village is still under the control of the gangs who destroyed it.
My heart aches. Seeing the pictures of the destruction in their village and receiving texts from various metal guys describing what happened to their homes & shops.
My heart is also encouraged & proud of our Haitian friends. Their loss is great, but their resilience is greater. Families & friends help each other to get through the pain & loss. They are looking for ways to continue working. Still sending picture samples, willing to work to provide for their families during the turmoil & loss. And, trying to figure out what to do, where to go, where to live.
We can’t solve their problems. It’s hard to even imagine the difficulties they are facing.
But we can stay connected. Each person who has been struggling has chosen a path or solution to begin dealing with their personal situation. We can listen and see if there are ways to work with them as they begin rebuilding their lives, businesses & homes.
And, there is an opportunity! The request I receive the most from the metal guys is to buy some of their metal art. One of the metal artisans managed to get his tools, and a few metal items out before his place was ruined. He texted yesterday and asked if I would help him out by buying some metal! He’s staying with a relative for now & looking for work!
In 2020, Covid basically shut down Apparent Project orders for about 18 months. We had an occasional order. But events just weren’t happening. Even though many of the artisans know that I can’t buy much, they still ask… often!
Apparent Project was a “sales based” non-profit… buying metal items, jewelry & other handmade products from Haiti, then selling in fundraiser or party/event boxes all over the US & in Canada. Our sales income kept Apparent Project with a stable financial base for years. However, in addition to the Covid situation with the drastic reduction in sales, we now have additional expenses! We have a Childcare, Preschool, Elementary School & Job Skills training progam in Haiti and can no longer be sustained by our sales income. We are looking for other ways to create income, but our immediate need is for a larger donor base (and more sales!) We need both sources of income. I’m asking for your help.
Buy or Sell Haitian Goods
For those of you who love events & parties OR who want to raise money for your cause.
Selling Haitian goods at an event or fundraising will help you & Apparent Project.
It will also help the metal artisans earn some income (and will help other Haitian artisans, too.)
To receive information about sales orders…
Click on “Ways to Help”on the menu above.
Donate/Invest
For those who want to help provide a stable & sustainable financial base,
our goal is 34 AP Haiti salaries @ about $400/month.
Join our #34-400 Family!
https://apparentproject.kindful.com/?campaign=1088345
Thank you to all our faithful supporters, for those who have prayed, served at events, donated… in what ever way you have walked with us on our Apparent Project journey! Thank you!
We are Building Future Leaders of Integrity in Haiti!
Psalm 2:8 “Ask of Me and I’ll give you the Nations as an inheritance…”
